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Case report: Adult with bipolar disorder and autism treated with ketamine assisted psychotherapy.

Christopher P Harris, Becky Jones, Kathryn Walker, Meredith S Berry

Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322679 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population A 29-year-old man with bipolar disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and type 2 diabetes
Intervention Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
Dose 6 initial IV infusions over 1 month followed by 2 booster IV infusions
Duration 1 month of initial infusions, with booster infusions afterward
Topics Ketamine Esketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Keywords Autism spectrum disorder Bipolar disorder Case report Ketamine assisted psychotherapy Psychopharmacology Kap Ketamine treatment Behavioral therapy Bd Case study
Citations 4
Key findings Ketamine assisted psychotherapy led to dramatic reductions in anger outbursts, anxiety, suicidality, and depression in a patient with bipolar disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract

Evidence has increased in recent years regarding the potential for ketamine to serve as a novel treatment option for a range of conditions, particularly depression (unipolar and bipolar). However, research regarding ketamine as a potential therapeutic for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is lacking, despite high overlap with bipolar depression and theoretical foundations for its use. A 29-year-old man with bipolar disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, type 2 diabetes, presented with mood swings and suicidal thoughts, and anger outbursts occurring daily. The patient was referred by a psychiatrist due to irritability and outbursts during the previous 5 months. These outbursts were unable to be controlled by the medications prescribed, included yelling and screaming, and the patient was unable to speak with the psychiatrist. The patient underwent ketamine assisted psychotherapy with 6 initial IV infusions of ketamine over a 1 month period followed by 2 booster IV ketamine infusions. Following ketamine treatment, dramatic reductions in outbursts were observed as well as reductions in anxiety, suicidality, and depression scores. This case study adds to the scant literature regarding ketamine treatment for individuals with bipolar disorder and ASD. We did not find ASD to be a contraindication for IV ketamine and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Reductions in anger outbursts, anxiety, suicidality, and depression suggest ketamine treatment might be tailored to individuals with bipolar disorder and ASD, and additional systematized research is warranted. Although potential mechanisms of action are not clear, these data add to the discussion regarding clinical practice considerations and the potential for ketamine to improve quality of life and associated metrics.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in adolescents with multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Adolescents aged 14–19 with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses including... 2023 Case series n = 4
Reconnecting through dissociation: a 5-month follow-up case study on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. Female patient in her late twenties with anorexia nervosa and comorbid depression 2025 Case report n = 1
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of Co-occurring Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression: A Case Study. A patient with co-occurring borderline personality disorder and depression 2025 Case study n = 1
Qualitative analysis of a patient's experience of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for substance use disorder: Empirical synergies with twelve-step programs 28-year-old female treated for alcohol and opioid use disorder 2025 Case study n = 1
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case Report. 43-year-old man with antisocial personality disorder, alcoholism, and depression 2025 Case report n = 1

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Ketamine Esketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy Anxiety Depression

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